King Xiao of Zhou and King Yi of Zhou ascended to the throne through an abnormal process. First, King Xiao of Zhou seized the throne that should have belonged to King Yi of Zhou. After King Xiao of Zhou died, King Yi of Zhou relied on the power of the vassals to regain the throne. During this period, it was accompanied by a life-and-death factional struggle. After the son of King Yi of Zhou, King Li of Zhou, Ji Hu, became the emperor, he wanted to heal the wounds caused by the battle between King Xiao of Zhou and King Yi of Zhou. However, King Li of Zhou was an impatient and hot-tempered person. He did not understand the laws of quantitative change and qualitative change. He overdid things and spoiled things.
The King of Chu, Xiong Qu, saw that the newly appointed King Li of Zhou was a hot-tempered person and was not easy to bully. He knew that imitating the Emperor of Zhou to confer the title of king was an act of overstepping his boundaries. He was afraid that King Li of Zhou would punish him, so he quickly canceled the titles of his three sons.
King Li of Zhou thought that if he wanted to strengthen the strength of the Zhou royal family, he first had to strengthen the financial resources of the Zhou royal family. This idea was correct, but the next step was still open to discussion.
The monarch of Rong Kingdom (in the west of Hu County, Shaanxi Province), Duke Rong Yi, offered a plan to King Li of Zhou."The Son of Heaven monopolizes the mountains, forests, and rivers. He implements patents and does not allow the people of the country to obtain the benefits of the mountains, forests, and rivers.”
The doctor, Rui Liangfu, advised King Li of Zhou, saying,"You can't do this. Everyone should have a share of everything in heaven and earth. How could one person monopolize it? Monarchism would anger many people and lead to great disaster. Now, your king, you are monopolizing wealth and profit, violating the laws and regulations of the Zhou people to enjoy the mountains, forests, rivers and marshes for the benefit of the people. How can this be done? If Duke Rong was put in an important position, the Zhou Dynasty would definitely fall.”
However, King Li of Zhou was eager for success and did not listen to advice. He regarded Duke Rongyi as his most favored official and appointed him as a minister to manage the state affairs and implement the emperor's patent policy.
After the implementation of the emperor's patent policy, it cut off the livelihood of the people and caused dissatisfaction among the people. The people openly discussed King Li's mistakes. He summoned Duke Mu to report to King Li of Zhou,"The people can't stand your orders anymore!"”King Li of Zhou was furious and found a wizard from the State of Wei. He asked him to monitor those people who were discussing. If he found them, he would report them and kill them immediately. As a result, there were fewer people discussing. The Chinese did not dare to speak, and they could only exchange glances when they met on the road.
Duke Mu was summoned to remonstrate with King Li of Zhou, saying,"It is more difficult to stop the people's speech than to stop the flood." If the flood accumulated too much, once the dike burst, it would destroy houses, fertile fields, and drown people. Blocking the people's speech, the people's complaints accumulated in their hearts. Once they accumulated too much, once they exploded, it would endanger the country. The people who controlled the water opened the river to make the water flow smoothly. Those who govern the people should also open up the way for them to speak.”However, King Li of Zhou did not listen to his advice.
Three years later, in the thirty-seventh year of King Li of Zhou (841 B.C.), the people in Haojing could not stand it anymore. They rebelled together and rushed into the palace to kill King Li of Zhou. King Li of Zhou fled to the land of Zhi (now northeast of Huo County, Shanxi Province) and summoned Duke Mu to hide the crown prince of King Li of Zhou in his own home.
The people of the country could not find King Li of Zhou. When they heard that Duke Zhao Mu had hidden Prince Jing of King Li of Zhou in his house, they immediately surrounded Duke Zhao Mu's house and wanted to kill Prince Jing of King Li of Zhou. Zhao Mugong used his son to replace Prince Jing of King Li of Zhou, so Prince Jing was spared from being killed.
The countrymen thought that they had killed Prince Jing of King Li of Zhou, so their anger was alleviated. Duke Zhao Mu patiently persuaded the countrymen, promised to correct the mistakes of the emperor's patent, and allowed the countrymen to make a living in the mountains, forests, rivers, and swamps. The countrymen calmed their anger and dispersed.
King Li of Zhou did not dare to return to the capital, Haojing, but he was still the Son of Heaven in name. Prince Jing could not be the Son of Heaven. The country could not be without a master for a day. Everyone elected Duke Ding of Zhou and Duke Mu of Zhao to jointly take charge of the country. Duke Ding of Zhou was the monarch of the Zhou State (now Fufeng, Shaanxi Province) and a descendant of Duke Dan of Zhou. Zhao Mu Gong is the descendant of Zhao Gong Shi. The two of them had been in charge of state affairs for 14 years and were known as the "Zhou Zhao Republic" in history.
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